Differential Drag for Cluster Flight Using Mean Orbital Elements

摘要

Differential drag (DD) as a means for passive satellite cluster keepingrnis an old idea, but so far using DD-based cluster keeping while relyingrnon mean orbital elements feedback has not been proposed. This paperrndevelops a DD-based maximum distance keeping method that usesrnBrouwer-Lyddane differential mean elements feedback for long-term controlrnof the secular drift among satellites. The stability of the maximumrndistance keeping controller is proven using finite-time stability theory,rnand high-precision simulation results confirm that the new controller isrnable to arrest satellite relative drift for mission lifetimes exceeding arnyear. The maximum distance controller is automatically activated, andrndoes not require a pre-determined activation time.